If a creative seed has been ripening in you for a long time, but you don’t know how to help him discover it, it was for you that an exotic way was invented to realize the potential of the creator. This option is closely related to the love of amphibians and fragrant vegetation, pleasing to the eyes and hearts of lovers of natural landscapes. What is it about? It is about creating a paludarium.
What is a paludarium?
This is a mini-ecosystem recreated in an enclosed space, playing the role of the original addition to the interior, combining water, air and earth elements. Simply put, this is an indoor swamp or, if you like, a miniature jungle that contributes to the appearance of a good mood, peace and many other positive emotions.
This kind of aesthetic and practical (the practical part will be discussed below) home improvement will suit everyone without exception, but nevertheless, as statistics show, elderly people who have a lot of free time are engaged in palladiums, because this corner of nature really needs care. The creative basis of such mini-gardens is a rich selection of plants and their combinations, as well as an unlimited range of possibilities for transforming the appearance.
Now let's move on to a more detailed analysis of the paludariums.
Plant Species for Paludariums
Suitable for existence in such conditions are:
- Plants are purely aquatic - water lilies, flower garden or nymphaeum, egg capsule, etc.
- Semi-aquatic or partially in water. For example, rhubarb pierced, Elodea canadian, hornwort submerged, etc.
- Houseplants, for example, fern, spathiphyllum, etc.
There is also obligatory vegetation for all paludariums. It includes tillandsia and cissus - the ground greens of the reservoir.
In almost any area, specimens suitable for cultivation in these glass jungle houses can be found. However, most owners of the paludariums prefer to grow exotic plants. The conditions of detention require compliance with the rules for maintaining the necessary microclimate. It is desirable to keep plants warm, not lower than +22 ° C. For this, you can purchase specialized heaters or install a paludarium near the battery, at the right distance. The tank must be kept closed, periodically ventilating to prevent decay.
It is also extremely important to spray with osmosis water. Fertilizers will suit absolutely any, the main thing is to observe the dosage. Plants also need light to grow. For this, the simplest fluorescent lamp is suitable.
If only green plants are grown in the aquarium, then there are no special requirements for its content. If the owner decided to plant a pet there - this is completely different. Cleanliness is an important rule for a comfortable life in the water. Normal tap water is suitable. Only she needs to stand a little for the weathering of bleach.
Do-it-yourself paludarium
Now the fun part! How to make a paludarium with your own hands? This option is acceptable for those who do not have enough financial resources to purchase a rather expensive accessory, as well as for those who are interested in trying to make it on their own.
First of all, you are required to assemble the base of the tank. In this you need to build on the type of paludarium you have chosen: it will be open or closed. The first is a space framed by walls, of which the front will be lower than the others, freeing up access for direct interaction of the owner with the world of mini-flora. However, the closed type has the advantage. In it, the living creatures and the landscape itself, isolated in closed walls, are in the most natural conditions for themselves, and therefore, in the most favorable. But the first type is much more attractive in appearance. Choose you! The shape of the container itself is created entirely at the discretion of the owner, the main thing is that no one is crowding anyone.
Next, we proceed to the design of the back, background face. To do this, apply a mounting foam on it, simulating a stony texture. Styrofoam is also suitable for this purpose, but a lot of problems can arise with it, and shaping it is more difficult than using an assembly.
The next stage is the coloring of the background. The paint parameters should not exceed the permissible toxicity limit, and it is better to choose semi-dark colors, but as a matter of fact it is better, only the owner is more visible! All kinds of natural materials are suitable for decorating the palladium with your own hands: from twigs to shavings. But all this is only after the painted surface has completely dried.
After that, irrigation and ventilation systems are installed (for closed paludariums). Everything masquerades as vegetation. Then proceed to the design of sushi. Pour a five-centimeter layer of soil to the bottom, simultaneously filling it with water.
And at the final stage, we plant plants for the paludarium. There are two possible landing options:
- The first and most acceptable way is to install them on the ground in pots, so that animals and plants seamlessly coexist with each other, minimizing interaction.
- The second way, a little more problematic, is to plant the plants directly in the soil scattered on the bottom, outside the pots. The problem is that they take root longer and more difficult in such conditions.
Pragmatic aspect
The pragmatic aspect of the operation and design of the paludarium includes the following facets. Firstly, the paludarium is ideal for collectors-florariumists, since it is possible to place a wide variety of plants in it. Secondly, the plants in it enrich the air with oxygen. Thirdly, the observation of processes occurring in the ecozone and the necessary study of floristry will enrich your erudition.
Soil for paludarium
Now a little more detail on the soil for the aquarium. It is one of the key elements, because on it, in essence, life will develop. The earth should be saturated with substances useful for greenery. Their presence is especially important for plants with a complex root system.
The materials used in the manufacture of soil are distinguished by their chemical and physical qualities. There are main materials (sand, gravel, etc.), and also there are additional additives (peat) to them. Some materials are initially prepared endowed with nutrients, while others create elements that constrain these substances. But there is a raw material that does not have either one or the other ability. For example, gravel. It is needed in the aquarium to hold the plants themselves. All this can also be purchased in specialized stores, but if by chance it happens to be all the same in the fresh air in its original form, then it is better to use this, because the difference is only in cost (disinfect gravel with bleach before use).
The soil is laid in an aquarium in three stages:
- The first is the bottom layer. It consists of laterite, necessarily saturated with iron, or gravel, enriched with clay. Its thickness should be 2-5 centimeters, not more.
- The middle layer is earth plus peat (15% of the total volume), a thickness of 2-3 centimeters.
- The general surface layer is ordinary fine gravel mixed with sand.
Fancy Plants for a Home Swamp
For the design of the paludarium, perennial marsh grass, echinodorus, is suitable. It can grow both in the reservoir itself and on the shore near it. Grass needs proper top dressing and good shade. Although echinodorus have many species, only a few of them are suitable for keeping in the palladium.
Orchids can also be planted in the palludarium, although to some this may seem unusual. Odorata is the most preferred type of orchid for cultivation in such conditions. This species is best suited for long-term existence in the paludarium. In order for the odorata to fully bloom, regular and good lighting is necessary. Orchid exudes a pleasant aroma, mottled with white flowers.
Another of the unique and ancient plants for the paludarium is selaginella. It will organically look in any variation. In appearance, the selaginella due to its small stature and fluffiness is somewhat reminiscent of moss, but it belongs to ferns by origin. Good shade and moisture are important to the plant. Selaginella in nature prefers to grow in shady, moist tropical forests.
Hygrophile
Hygrophil is preferred for aquarists to have highly decorative properties. The owner of many species within a kind, the hygrophil is truly diverse in its variations with different dimensions, color and type of leaves.
The conditions for growing and maintaining life are uncomplicated hygrophils: at a temperature of + 22-26 ° C, these plants need soil saturated with calcium and other nutrients. It will also be useful to arrange ultra-bright lighting.
There are a number of the most popular hygrophilic aquarium plants: pinnatiphid, hygrophilous loosestrife and multi-seeded. A feature of the first representative of the genus is the slow growth and the ability to mutate, acquiring a variety of variegated colors. About the loosestrife hygrophile it should be said that she is an ideal “guest” of aquariums, because she is developing rapidly (about fifteen sheets in six months). The latter, multi-seeded hygrophiles, are best suited for those who have just begun paludarium activity, because plants of this species can coexist in an aquarium of any size.
Here are the most common types of hygrophiles. Aquarium plants hygrophils are very beautiful, look great. They have elongated bright leaves, geometrically folded. This is a real diamond of nature.
Cryptocoryne
One of the most common aquarium plants from the aroid family is cryptocoryne. The plant is in the first places of the pedestal among the favorites of aquarists because of its multivariance and unpretentiousness. Outwardly, cryptocoryne, the photo of which is presented below, looks like a bush with long elongated stems and leaves. Their height varies from 4 to 100 cm. The types of leaf surfaces are different: smooth and pimply.
The name itself, consisting of two roots, crypto and koryne, talks about one of the features of this plant, which is partly its drawback. Cryptocorin in translation means "hidden ear". In other words, in the foliage of this representative of aquarium plants lies a flower, which in extremely rare cases reaches its erection in palladium conditions.
As already mentioned, the content of cryptocorins is absolutely not burdensome for owners: they don’t care how wet the space around them is, how much it is lit. However, although the plant is unpretentious, there is still one condition under which it may not be sweet. This is a climate change. It is not recommended to transfer cryptocoryne from the illuminated area to the shade, change the composition of water or soil, and change the temperature regime. This can lead to plant disease and almost irreparable consequences. If this still happened, then it is urgent to change the water, soil, remove infected leaves and algae.
In general, this green comrade, if you should look after him properly, is the lover’s most reliable companion to breathe in the clean air of the house.
Anubias plant
Anubias is known to aquarists as a plant from the subtropical strip of the African continent. Represents a family of aroid. Perhaps in demand among all owners of terrariums, aquariums and paludariums. Such a plant for the paludarium is not capricious in care, and the appearance of a fairly adult sample will justify the most daring aesthetic expectations.
Anubias is characterized by a wide range of “outfits”: from lush leaves with soft corners to pointed epee-like ones. It is difficult not to identify Anubias in comparison with plants neighboring in capacity. Its distinguishing feature is leaves (solid, with a brilliant shimmer).
Due to the strength of the structure, anubias nana is not afraid of mechanical application of defects. It can be safely planted in an aquarium, where herbivorous fish will live. They will not be able to crack him.
Anubias needs high humidity. Comfortable temperature - from 24 to 27 ° C. The nuances are as follows: avoid bright light and clean the water to avoid turbidity.
Despite these small details, Anubias is an excellent plant for paludarium, which explains such a high demand for these plants.
Mosses for the aquarium
Another decorative element that can decorate any swamp is moss. Its main need is light, so do not skimp and arrange for the moss as bright as possible.
In addition to its aesthetics, moss has practical value - as a top dressing for fish. Any moss, except forest moss, is suitable for the aquarium, because it does not tolerate high humidity, and this is just an integral aspect of the internal routine of ecosystem life.
To accelerate the growth of moss, you need to perform the following simple procedure: grind the moss in a meat grinder and rub it into pebbles, which are planned to be lowered into water. Moss for the paludarium will be a worthy company to representatives of the flora and fauna of your swamp.
Bucephalandra Content
More recently appeared on the market, but many bucephalanders have already fallen in love. These plants are lovers of swamps and owners of elegant decorativeness.
Useful for keeping bucephalandra in an aquarium will be:
- fertilizers to stimulate growth;
- poor lighting, due to which the plants will acquire a bright color and lush flowering (under water, the bucephalandra also blooms very well).
It is recommended to dissolve the foliage in case of a change in the paludarium and to connect the rhizome with a snag when planting. In the case of bucephalander, it is necessary to achieve the stability of water parameters to prevent dissolution of the leaves. In comfortable conditions, it tends to grow with frightening swiftness and blooms faster, motley with its milky-colored candles. Bucephalandra can be located in any part of the paludarium: both on the bottom plane, along the vertical of the walls, etc.
Bucephalander is capable of roots even grow to the stones of the aquarium or other hard surfaces.
Fern
Growing ferns requires patience and work, so you should carefully weigh the decision to plant these plants in the paludarium. It is because of the whimsicality of this little popular activity among aquarists. But if you still dared to take such a path, then here are some recommendations regarding the content of ferns in the paludarium.
Try to circulate water and have good light. Ferns also perceive automatic irrigation well. At the very beginning, when landing, you must do the following. At the bottom, it is desirable to put expanded clay, and then - charcoal (prevents acidification). Next, already on the ground, place the ferns. Due to the heat capacity of quartz sand, it will be nice to sprinkle ferns on them.
In conclusion
Now you have learned some interesting facts about growing plants in the paludarium, about their decorative and practical properties and features, about the rules for creating a comfortable microclimate in the paludarium. We hope the information provided was helpful.
Always remember that if any of the plants in your paludarium gets sick, then never, even in small doses, treat the aquarium with chemicals. This will cause irreversible harm to the entire artificial ecosystem.
Caring for a paludarium in our time will not be difficult, and modern technical capabilities will greatly facilitate care. By choosing the option of a paludarium with a waterfall, you can easily maintain a suitable microclimate and comfortable conditions in the system.
Family people more often than others turn to the idea of arranging a paludarium of any size in their home. There is hardly anyone who is not interested in this occupation, from the baby to the oldest in the family, who does not want to join the role of the creator in this tiny paradise.